Fly swatter



Mrch 13, 1928. 1,662,264

E. L. HENDERSON FLY SWATTER Filed July 8, 1927 vf gll Patented Mar, 13,1928 a I i UNITED STATES htfihztit PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN L. HENDERSON, 0F WAUSAU, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR- TO VIILSON-HUBD COM-PANY, OF WAUSAU, WISCONSIN,

A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

FLY SWAT TE R.

Application filed July 3, 1927. Serial No. 2043M.

This invention relates to an improvement in fly swatters and has for itsobject to provide a device of this character which is of extremelysimple and durable construction, reliable and effective in operation,and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

One type of fly swatter which has been extensively used over a longperiod consists of a wire handle provided at its outer end with arms towhich a striking member, usually wire mesh, is secured by a sheet metalcasing. The problem of fastening the sheet metal 'casing in such manneras to secure thesame to the striking member and to the handle and tomaintain the assembly of these parts has been a more or less troublesomeone and various expedients have been resorted to in an attempt tosatisfactorily solve the problem. In some instances rivets, eye-lets, orsimilar fastening means have been employed to aid in the properfastening of the sheet metal casing, striking member and handle inassembly but the disadvantage of this expedient resides in the fact thatit adds another operation to the process of manufacture as well asanother set of elements to the device, consequently increasing theexpense. As devices of this kind find a wide use as advertisingspecialties it is essential that their cost be-kept down to the verymini mum. I

In an attempt to eliminate the rivets or other fastening means it hasbeen proposed to form the sheet metal casing with a plurality ofover-lapping portions which are crimped or pressed into engagement witheach other and into engagement with the striking member and handle. Thesolution which thcpresent invention provides for the problem is alongthis latter line butdiifers from anything that has been done heretoforein the material simplification of the manufacturing process and in theelimination of any waste of the metal used to form the sheet metalcasing. Along with these advantages the present invention provides apositive interlock between the assembled parts.

In carrying out the present invention a striking member is provided andmay be of wire mesh with the exposed edges thereof, bound with tape orthe like. The lower corners of the striking member are folded over toprovide pockets which receive diverging arms formed at the upper end ofthe wire handle. A sheet metal casing covers the lower portion of thestriking member and the diverging arms of the handle, This sheet metalcasing is constructed of a single piece of metal and is so shaped thattwo such sheet metal asings may be cut without waste from a rectangularor square blank. The sheet metal casing is folded transversely and hasits folded portion crimped around one of the arms and the portions ofthe striking member embracing such arm. One of the ends of the casing isextended around the other arm and laps over the other end of the casing,both of these ends being crimped into permanent engagement with each.other and intocrimping engagement with the portions of the strikingmember and with thearm of the handle with which they are associated.

The crimped casingprovides positive stops cooperable with the divergingarms of the handle toafford a positive interlock and this is had in aconstruction which is adapted to a simplified and comparativelyinexpensive manufacturing process;

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of theconstruction, ar-

angement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fullydescribedand particularly pointed out in the appended claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a partof thisspecification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing a fly swatter embodyingthepresent invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevationalview of the opposite sideof the swatter from thatshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section on line 3.3 of Figure 2; and, I

Figure 4 is a plan view showing how the sheet metal casing is struckfrom the blank.v

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that in the present embodimentof the invention the fly swatter comprises a wire handle designatedgenerally at 1 and having a looped or double gripping portion 2, a shankportion 3 wherein the strands of the wire handle are inter-twisted anddiverging arms i.

A striking member 5 is provided and is shown as comprising a suitablyshaped piece of wire mesh which hasits exposed edges taped or bound asindicated at 6. The lower corners of the wire mesh striking member 5 arefolded over as at 7 to define pockets which receive the diverging armstof the handle.

A sheet metal casing designated generally at is provided and serves tocover the lower portion of the striking member. the il'olded corners 7thereof and also the diverging arms 4 ot the handle and to secure andmaintain these parts in assembly. This sheet metal casing S isconstructed of a single piece of metal and is so shaped and folded as tobe adapted to be struck from the blank with a minimum of waste. and yetthe very construction that makes possible the practical elimination ofwaste also simplifies the assembling operation and insures the securityof the parts in proper position and relation with respect to each otherduring the life of the swatter. As shown in Figure 4. two sheet, metalcasings 8 may be struck from a single rectangular blank. For the sake ofclearness in illustration. Figure -1- shows one of the casings struckfrom the blank in full lines and the other in dotted lines. Each sheetmetal :asiug is of substantially triangular form although the cornersot' the blank are preferably cut away and each casing has an extension9. which. in the blank. is an extension of a portion of the base of thetriangle. After being cut :1 av from the blank the sheet metal casing 8is folded transversely along its transverse median line a. the fold aproviding a bight portion 10 from which side sections 11 and 12 of thecasing extend.

In the assembly. the bightportion 10 em braces one of the arms- .4; ofthe handle and the portions of the striking member associated with sucharm I and the two side sections 11 and 12 of the casing lie on theopposite sides of the lower portion of the flexible member. The end ofthe casing on which the extension 0 is formed is extended around theother arm of the handle and around the portions of the striking memberassociated with such other arm and over-laps the end portion ll of theother end of the casing. After the sheet metal casing has been assembledin this manner with the striking member and the handle. it is crimpedinwardly around the arms of the handle as indicated at 13. 1st. 15 and16 (see Fig. 25). these crimps providing positive stops or shoulderscoaeting with the diverging arms to prevent. loosening or (lisass'anblyof the parts and acting to firmly and securely hold the striking member.handle and casing in assembly. Thus. not only are the arms of the handleretained in the pockets formed by folding over the lower corners of thestrile ing member but the casing itself is maintained in properposition. This advantage is had with a single piece of sheet metal casing which has a single set of over-lapping ends. In other words. at oneside of the swatter there is a closed bight 1t) and atone side only isthere the over-lapping of the ends. As shown in Figure 1. the centralportion of the blank is cut out at i) to provide the opening whichaccommtalates the shank of the handle.

In this way the swatter not only has a Ft!- cure fastening of its partsand a generally durable construction without the use of rivets or otherfastening devices but waste in the production of the sheet metal casingis minimized. The general durability of the swatter is greatly enhancedby forming the. closed bight or gripping portion at one side of the s*at'ter and having but a single set ot' over-lapping ends at the otherside of the swatter.

The faces ot the side sections ol the single piece casing are adapted toreceive advertising matter.

The invention claimed is:

l. A 'lly swatter comprising a handle having arms, a striking memberhaving portions engaged with the arms and a single piece sheet metalcasing covering the arm and the lower end of the striking member. saidcasing having an intermediate bight portion ot closed forlnatioi'i whichembraces and secures a portion of the striking member to one of saidarms and having a single set of oven lapping ends for securing thestriking men1- her to the other arm.

2. A sheet metal casing for use in securing a striking member of a flyswatter to a handle and tannprising a single piece of metal ofsubstantially triangular form adapted to be struck with a minimum ofwaste from a blank and having an (Kit-Tish) from a portion of the bareol' the triangle. said casing being bent along the altitude of thetriangle to provide a bight-like grip 'iing portion. the extension ofthe base portion of the triangle and the remaining portion of the basebeing shaped to provide a gripping arrangement.

In witness whereof. I hereunto allix my signature.

EDWIN L. llllNDllltSt )N.

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